DONALDSON'S CELESTIAL GLOBE 1820 ENGRAVED BY W.& A.K. JOHNSTON Published by DONALDSON & SON'S So. Niddry St.
The 12-inch (30.5cm.) diameter sphere is made up of twelve hand-coloured engraved gores laid to the ecliptic poles, with the axis through the celestial poles. The equatorial is graduated in degrees and in hours and minutes in both directions; the colures are graduated in degrees; the ecliptic is graduated in twelve times 1-30° with sigils, and in days of the month, with twilight zone. The constellations are depicted by mythical beasts and figures and scientific instruments, with the stars shown to seven orders of magnitude and labelled according to the star catalogue of their source (small scratches and rubbing throughout, and all around the equator; cracking and paper loss to South Pole). The globe is mounted in a stamped brass meridian with an hour dial. The engraved horizon paper shows degrees, compass directions and days of the month and of the houses of the Zodiac for four year cycles. The mahogany horizon is raised on four curved quadrant supports to a column with fluted tulip motif, on three inswept legs. A glazed compass is supported between, with blued-steel needle and signed paper DONALDSON & SONS SO. NIDDRY ST EDINBURGH (glass cracked)